Happy Wednesday, Booklovers!
My guest this week is author Jodi Rath with her featured book, Pineapple Upside Down Murder. Sounds delicious, doesn’t it? :)
Welcome, Jodi. What may I get you to drink?
JR: I really LOVE the smell of coffee (my hubby makes a pot every morning) but I can’t drink it because it gives me a stomach ache for some reason. So instead, I drink the loose leaf hot tea every morning. My preference is called Adagio Perfect Pumpkin flavored tea with two sweet–n-lows and a few drops of milk.
Ally: While my magic pot conjures up a cup of your special tea, please introduce yourself to readers.
My guest this week is author Jodi Rath with her featured book, Pineapple Upside Down Murder. Sounds delicious, doesn’t it? :)
Welcome, Jodi. What may I get you to drink?
JR: I really LOVE the smell of coffee (my hubby makes a pot every morning) but I can’t drink it because it gives me a stomach ache for some reason. So instead, I drink the loose leaf hot tea every morning. My preference is called Adagio Perfect Pumpkin flavored tea with two sweet–n-lows and a few drops of milk.
Ally: While my magic pot conjures up a cup of your special tea, please introduce yourself to readers.
Author Bio:
I am the owner of MYS ED LLC at www.jodirath.com . Currently, I'm working on a cozy mystery series called The Cast Iron Skillet Mysteries. Book 1 will be coming out late fall of 2018 and it is titled Pineapple Upside down Murder. I've also started working on a children's book called The Puppy-Toed Kitty and a YA book called The Cultural Mishaps of Savannah Lighthead. I also have one educational writing project that I’m currently working to complete on the topic of Social and Emotional Learning.
I'm married to the perfect man for me with our family of eight cats. I have a B.A. in English Literature and an M.A. in Teacher Education. I taught English to high school students for 18 years and loved every minute of it! Currently, my business entails online adjunct work where I have the honor to work with Ohio teachers, and I do educational writing, and of course mystery writing.
Author Contacts:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jodirath
Twitter: @JodiRath
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jodirath/?hl=en
Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodi-rath-472729157/
I am the owner of MYS ED LLC at www.jodirath.com . Currently, I'm working on a cozy mystery series called The Cast Iron Skillet Mysteries. Book 1 will be coming out late fall of 2018 and it is titled Pineapple Upside down Murder. I've also started working on a children's book called The Puppy-Toed Kitty and a YA book called The Cultural Mishaps of Savannah Lighthead. I also have one educational writing project that I’m currently working to complete on the topic of Social and Emotional Learning.
I'm married to the perfect man for me with our family of eight cats. I have a B.A. in English Literature and an M.A. in Teacher Education. I taught English to high school students for 18 years and loved every minute of it! Currently, my business entails online adjunct work where I have the honor to work with Ohio teachers, and I do educational writing, and of course mystery writing.
Author Contacts:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jodirath
Twitter: @JodiRath
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jodirath/?hl=en
Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodi-rath-472729157/
INTERVIEW:
Ally: What can readers expect from one of your books?
JR: My genre is Cozy Mysteries. I’d have to say my romantic scenes on your heat radar would set the needle at a 3 (sensual). :) Come on, they are cozies so expect some love triangles and in book 1 expect all those new fresh lovey feelings to surface along with confusion when a new, mysterious man visits the village. :) Fun!
Ally: Where do you get your story ideas?
JR: I got the idea for my Cast Iron Skillet Mystery Series from my friends on social media, especially my Facebook friends. My grandma gave me her 70 year old cast iron skillet for Christmas in 2017 and she has ONLY ever made pineapple upside down cake in it since it was my grandpa’s favorite dessert. I LOVE this cake! She shared the secret family recipe with me and gave me the skillet. My grandma is now 87 years old. I told the story on FB and other social media platforms and took a picture of the skillet and it was so well received. People from all over the country shared recipes and tips with me and were so moved by the story and so gracious to me. I want to share cast iron skillet recipes and tips on caring for them at the end of each book in this series because of how many people were kind enough to share with me! They inspired me to write this series for them.
Ally: Let’s talk about villains. What makes a good one? What characteristics will make us love to hate him/her?
JR: The villain in book 1 of my series, Pineapple Upside Down Murder, appears to be a normal member of the village. This villain has actually been a member of the village their entire life. They lead a normal life and no one would ever expect them to be the killer. Now the reasoning BEHIND the murder is what is somewhat sad and shocking to the village. Also, if you would allow me to pose a question to your readers, I’m curious: I was thinking of writing the fictional cozy and at the end of each book to have a short non-fiction essay discussing some of the big themes of the book and using social media to discuss. I wondered what readers would think about this since it is an unusual method to add NF to a fictional book. My business ties into mysteries and education, and I can’t seem to get away from linking to the two.
Ally: Do the people in your real life show up in your writing? Be honest.
JR: Of course they do. :) There are many of MY character traits and flaws in my protagonist. My protagonist, Jolie Tucker, has a best friend Ava Martinez, who takes on many personality traits from about five of my closest friends. I will name my friends here to embarrass them now. LOL (everyone reading this is thinking, “I will never be her friend!”). No, I’m kidding, I will respect my friends’ privacy! Opal is Jolie’s grandma who helps Jolie start her Cast Iron Creation restaurant by passing down her cast iron skillet; (Jodi is now clearing her throat) does that sound familiar? LOL Jolie’s mom and uncle and aunt all have traits similar to my family. The fictional setting is Leavensport, Ohio (which I created a handy-dandy map to share with readers for the series) and it mimics the small village where I live and where I grew up since 5th grade. :)
Ally: What three books in your genre would you recommend to fans (after they’ve read your books, of course!).
JR: I absolutely LOVE Summer Prescott Book Publishing. I cannot say enough nice things about Summer and her entire staff! They were instrumental in helping me on my journey to get self-published. I would recommend any of her writers to cozy or thriller lovers!
Ally: What is your next writing project? Anticipated release date?
JR: My next project is already being written as we speak and it is book two of the Cast Iron Skillet Mystery Series which is titled Jalapeno Cheddar Cornbread Murder. This one has a FANTASTIC recipe at the end of it and a rather SPICY plot twist! We may need to rank this book from a three on the heat radar to a four. Oh my!
Ally: I’d like to wind up the interview with a few short answer questions:
Ally: What can readers expect from one of your books?
JR: My genre is Cozy Mysteries. I’d have to say my romantic scenes on your heat radar would set the needle at a 3 (sensual). :) Come on, they are cozies so expect some love triangles and in book 1 expect all those new fresh lovey feelings to surface along with confusion when a new, mysterious man visits the village. :) Fun!
Ally: Where do you get your story ideas?
JR: I got the idea for my Cast Iron Skillet Mystery Series from my friends on social media, especially my Facebook friends. My grandma gave me her 70 year old cast iron skillet for Christmas in 2017 and she has ONLY ever made pineapple upside down cake in it since it was my grandpa’s favorite dessert. I LOVE this cake! She shared the secret family recipe with me and gave me the skillet. My grandma is now 87 years old. I told the story on FB and other social media platforms and took a picture of the skillet and it was so well received. People from all over the country shared recipes and tips with me and were so moved by the story and so gracious to me. I want to share cast iron skillet recipes and tips on caring for them at the end of each book in this series because of how many people were kind enough to share with me! They inspired me to write this series for them.
Ally: Let’s talk about villains. What makes a good one? What characteristics will make us love to hate him/her?
JR: The villain in book 1 of my series, Pineapple Upside Down Murder, appears to be a normal member of the village. This villain has actually been a member of the village their entire life. They lead a normal life and no one would ever expect them to be the killer. Now the reasoning BEHIND the murder is what is somewhat sad and shocking to the village. Also, if you would allow me to pose a question to your readers, I’m curious: I was thinking of writing the fictional cozy and at the end of each book to have a short non-fiction essay discussing some of the big themes of the book and using social media to discuss. I wondered what readers would think about this since it is an unusual method to add NF to a fictional book. My business ties into mysteries and education, and I can’t seem to get away from linking to the two.
Ally: Do the people in your real life show up in your writing? Be honest.
JR: Of course they do. :) There are many of MY character traits and flaws in my protagonist. My protagonist, Jolie Tucker, has a best friend Ava Martinez, who takes on many personality traits from about five of my closest friends. I will name my friends here to embarrass them now. LOL (everyone reading this is thinking, “I will never be her friend!”). No, I’m kidding, I will respect my friends’ privacy! Opal is Jolie’s grandma who helps Jolie start her Cast Iron Creation restaurant by passing down her cast iron skillet; (Jodi is now clearing her throat) does that sound familiar? LOL Jolie’s mom and uncle and aunt all have traits similar to my family. The fictional setting is Leavensport, Ohio (which I created a handy-dandy map to share with readers for the series) and it mimics the small village where I live and where I grew up since 5th grade. :)
Ally: What three books in your genre would you recommend to fans (after they’ve read your books, of course!).
JR: I absolutely LOVE Summer Prescott Book Publishing. I cannot say enough nice things about Summer and her entire staff! They were instrumental in helping me on my journey to get self-published. I would recommend any of her writers to cozy or thriller lovers!
Ally: What is your next writing project? Anticipated release date?
JR: My next project is already being written as we speak and it is book two of the Cast Iron Skillet Mystery Series which is titled Jalapeno Cheddar Cornbread Murder. This one has a FANTASTIC recipe at the end of it and a rather SPICY plot twist! We may need to rank this book from a three on the heat radar to a four. Oh my!
Ally: I’d like to wind up the interview with a few short answer questions:
- an author (living or dead) you'd love to take to lunch: Sara Paretsky. I LOVE her work!!! Actually I love her. I am FB friends with her and LOVE all the personal aspects of her life she shares with her fans. She is an absolutely AMAZING woman!
- color of nail polish you have on: Hot Spot red and no manis or pedis for me…I have faithfully been doing my nails (hands) weekly and I do my toenails every 3 weeks.
- favorite accessory: Next year, I have a second series about Bohemian Jewelry (Gemma’s Bohemian Gems Series) and a third series on Purses (Peggy’s Purse Boutique Series). I LOVE jewelry and purses, I’d have to say I have way too many purses for one girl. I do love expensive purses but I buy cheaper jewelry with a funky, hippy flare to it. I get this honestly from my mom, and I often will use her purses and take her jewelry to wear too.
- If you couldn't write anymore, what would you want to do? Well, I taught HS English for 18 years and I am currently an adjunct (online) for a local university and work with Ohio teachersJ I LOVE it, and I have always loved working with teens. But if I were to do something I’ve never done before, it would be one of the things my three protagonist do, either run a cast iron skillet restaurant, or own a purse boutique, or own a jewelry store. And that, my dear friends, is why I LOVE to write…because in my dream world I can do that!!!!
- favorite place to write: My family room with my kitties all around me! They are my staff. When I was five years old, I used to “play” magazine. I pretended I ran a magazine company and would take my mom’s old magazines and cut them up and paste new pages together and make my own unique magazine. I used my pets and my stuffed animals and dolls as staff. Looks like I’m right back to being a five year old. LOL
Pineapple Upside Down Murder
The Cast Iron Skillet Mystery Series Book 1
Genre: cozy mystery
Coming November 23, 2018
Introducing Jolie Tucker, an introverted yet passionate restaurant co-owner of Cast Iron Creations, who, at her best friend Ava’s request, steps out of her comfort zone which leads her into the shade of a killer in the small, cozy village of Leavensport, Ohio.
The victim is the village's beloved Ellie Siler who runs the village sweet spot, Chocolate Capers. Jolie finds her grandma Opal is a prime suspect and goes on a search for answers only to find out that her family's secret recipes may not belong to the Tucker family at all.
Jolie’s job, family, and livelihood are all on the line. The answers are assuredly lethal.
Pre-order here: https://www.books2read.com/u/md0XMl
Releases November 23, 2018! (Subscribe to Jodi's website www.jodirath.com for the latest info.)
Pineapple Upside Down Murder
The Cast Iron Skillet Mystery Series Book 1
Genre: cozy mystery
Coming November 23, 2018
Introducing Jolie Tucker, an introverted yet passionate restaurant co-owner of Cast Iron Creations, who, at her best friend Ava’s request, steps out of her comfort zone which leads her into the shade of a killer in the small, cozy village of Leavensport, Ohio.
The victim is the village's beloved Ellie Siler who runs the village sweet spot, Chocolate Capers. Jolie finds her grandma Opal is a prime suspect and goes on a search for answers only to find out that her family's secret recipes may not belong to the Tucker family at all.
Jolie’s job, family, and livelihood are all on the line. The answers are assuredly lethal.
Pre-order here: https://www.books2read.com/u/md0XMl
Releases November 23, 2018! (Subscribe to Jodi's website www.jodirath.com for the latest info.)
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